NORWALK -- Fred Wilms, newly seated representative for the 142nd District seat in the state House of Representatives, has wasted no time in his effort to bring more money from Hartford to Norwalk schools.

Wilms, a Republican, this week submitted for consideration a bill to change the Education Cost Sharing Formula, which Norwalk Democrats and Republicans say shortchanges the city's public schools.

The proposed bill, titled "An Act Concerning Revisions to the Definition of Equalized Grand List for Purposes of the Calculation of the Education Cost-Sharing Grant," addresses the formula and future ECS grant funding.

"The purpose of the bill is to get cities like Norwalk more ECS funds by changing the formula weighted more toward income levels and less toward the property values," Wilms said. "We're a property rich town but we're an income moderate community."

Wilms said part of his proposed bill is based on a bill put forward by state Rep. Gail Lavielle, R-143, several years ago. Lavielle at the time worked closely on the bill with then-House Republican Lawrence F. Cafero, Jr., according to Wilms.

Under Wilms' proposal, municipalities with Grand Lists within the top 25 percent among Connecticut towns and cities, and also those in the bottom 50 percent, in terms of household income, would get more ECS dollars.

"Two cities that come to mind are Norwalk and Stamford, and this would apply to new ECS money -- additional monies," Wilms said.

Wilms is hopeful that the language addressing only new ECS funds will make his proposal more palatable to towns that are satisfied with the current formula.

"At the end of the day, we're dividing the pie and if somebody gets more of the pie, somebody has to get less -- that's a reality," Wilms said. "But what I'm looking to do is make the shift palatable to everybody."

Wilms said he is asking Norwalk's entire delegation for their support behind his proposed bill. He said he has reached out to ranking Education Committee members Lavielle and state Sen. Toni Boucher, R-26.

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